Kailos Genetics and Huntsman Cancer Institute Awarded $2.4 Million Grant for ctDNA Test Development

HUNTSVILLE, Ala.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Kailos
Genetics, a personalized medicine information company offering
leading-edge gene-based testing, today announced they have entered into
a collaboration with Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) at the University
of Utah to develop a clinical-grade test for circulating tumor DNA
(ctDNA). Backed by a $2.4 million grant from the National Institutes of
Health (NIH), the minimally invasive test will be used to monitor
patients for breast cancer disease recurrence.
Approximately 1.5 million women in the United States will be monitored
for disease recurrence in 2015. The long dormancy and spontaneous
re-growth of cancer cells presents a major challenge for monitoring
breast cancer survivors. Current imaging methods to detect disease
recurrence are expensive, carry a risk of radiation exposure and have
limited detection sensitivity for small masses and micro-metastases.
Additionally, current tests do not provide personalized information
about mutations that cause resistance to therapy. The test being
developed by Kailos and HCI is intended to improve outcomes through a
sensitive, accurate and affordable blood test that measures ctDNA to
detect breast cancer tumors earlier than imaging, and provide
information about therapy resistance mutations.
“When academic and commercial organizations collaborate, we are able to
see exciting advances in research be practically applied within the
consumer and clinical space,” said Troy Moore, chief scientific officer
at Kailos Genetics.
“We hope that the work we do as a result of this grant accelerates the
translation of research discoveries into useful tools that improve
cancer care,” stated Katherine Varley, PhD, investigator at Huntsman
Cancer Institute and assistant professor in the Department of
Oncological Sciences at the University of Utah. “This research has the
potential to make a big difference in the lives of breast cancer
patients and oncologists in the coming years.”
The research and development of the test will be structured as a
five-year multi-site study. It will occur at both HCI facilities and
Kailos’ commercial next-generation sequencing CLIA-certified laboratory
to ensure accuracy and reproducibility.
About Kailos
Kailos Genetics is a trusted provider of personalized health
information. Addressing unmet needs of healthcare consumers and their
families is Kailos’ primary reason for being. With its proprietary and
robust DNA sequencing enrichment and laboratory information system,
TargetRich^TM, Kailos helps make personalized medicine
affordable and accessible for everyone through the Kailos test. Founded
in 2010, and based in Huntsville’s HudsonAlpha Institute for
Biotechnology, Kailos is committed to providing a simple, trusted and
affordable way to help individuals understand what’s in their genes. To
learn more, visit www.kailosgenetics.com/about-kailos.
About Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah
Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) is one of the world’s top academic
research and cancer treatment centers. HCI is a member of the National
Comprehensive Cancer Network (a 23-member alliance of the world’s
leading cancer centers) and is a National Cancer Institute-Designated
Comprehensive Cancer Center. HCI treats patients with all forms of
cancer and operates several high-risk clinics that focus on melanoma and
breast, colon, and pancreas cancers. HCI manages the Utah Population
Database – the largest genetic database in the world, with more than 16
million records linked to genealogies, health records, and vital
statistics. Using this data, HCI researchers have identified
cancer-causing genes, including the genes responsible for melanoma,
colon and breast cancer, and paraganglioma. The HCI Cancer Learning
Center for patient and public education contains one of the nation’s
largest collections of cancer-related publications. The institute is
named after Jon M. Huntsman, Sr., a Utah philanthropist, industrialist,
and cancer survivor.